Towns on Spain's Costa Blanca are adapting to accommodate the needs of the hospitality trade

Towns on Spain’s Costa Blanca are adapting to accommodate the needs of the hospitality trade, one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.

BENIDORM Council this week announced parking spaces and public roads will be pedestrianised so that bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels can extend their terraces to compensate for only being allowed to serve 50 per cent of their tables.
And Villajoyosa Council revealed similar plans. From tomorrow, Friday, May 15, sections of Calle Colon between Calle’s Barranquet, Ciutat de Valencia, Ciutat de Valencia, Pizarro and Canalejas will be designated pedestrian areas.
The council said in a statement: “The movement of pedestrians will be a priority, and the movement and parking of vehicles will be totally restricted on a permanent basis.”
Signs are being erected and hydraulic bollards installed to prevent the entry and circulation of vehicles in the affected areas.
“The aim is to authorise public hotel and restaurant establishments located on the aforementioned sections of Calle Colon to install terrace elements in the pedestrianised areas,” explained the council.
“Areas reserved for parking vehicles for loading and unloading will be established… in these spaces it will be possible to park perpendicularly to the direction of the road, adjusting the parking time to that which is strictly necessary, and it must be done in such a way that the vehicle does not impede traffic or constitute a risk to other road users.
“The town hall wants to compensate for the 50 per cent capacity limitation for the numerous establishments in the area that barely have space, while guaranteeing a greater safety distance between the users of these terraces, thus increasing health safety measures.”
Vehicles exempt from any restrictions are those belonging to the Fire Prevention and Extinction Service, the Security Forces and Corps, ambulances and medical transport and other vehicles belonging to the Public Cleaning Services, repair services or similar for the provision of the corresponding service.
In addition, the restrictions will not affect those who transport sick or disabled people or those entering or leaving authorised garages.